Type-writing machine.



C. H. BROWN. TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 313.20, 1911. RENEWED MAB.1,1913.

1,121,971. Patented Dec. 22, 1914.

TNESSES INVEN TOR.

g v ZWWa'g/ZWM/ A TTORNEY.

CLARENCE H. BROWN,

TYPEWRITER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK. N.

OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO UNDERRVOOI) 1., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

TYPEWRITING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. February 20. 1911, Serial No. 609.861.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, (lnaanxcn H. Brown, a citizen of the United States. residing, at Pittsburgh. in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented cer tain new and useful Improvements in Type- Vriting ltlachines, of which the following is a specificati on.

, My invention pertains to a new and useful improvement in typewriting machines, being designed and applicable as an attachment for the line spacing mechanism of the/ machine.

The broad idea involved in-my invention relates to the provision of means whereby the line-spacing lever or handle is prevented from turning the platen with undue speed: The quick or sharp manual movement with which the line-spacing lever is frequently thrown when the machine is used for speedv work, not only causes the line-space paw to batter with undue force against its limit stop, but also communicates undue sharpness of movement to the platen. In converting a quick movement into a gradual movement for the performance of the olesired function, I provide a connecting train including a spring between the line-space lever and the platen (preferably between the line-spacing wheel and the platen), so that the impulses received by the line-spacing lever, by which it may be thrown with great violence against its stop, do not act directlv upon the platen, but upon an intermediate spring, storing therein the energv, which is more deliberately transmitted to the platen: the latter never moving faster than the spring itself can drive it, and the spring being too weak to drive the platen with undue speed.

The character of the line-space lever operation referred to in machines as at pres ent mauutactru'ed, .l re uently productive of faulty line-spacing of the worksheet, because the platen is turned at a speed too high to permit eiiicient adherence of the work-sheet to the surface of the platen: but with the spring connecting means, the platen, which is rotated by the energy Stored Patented Dec. 22, 19141.

Renewed March 1, 1913. Serial No. 751,614.

in the spring, initially lags behind the linesparing: lever, following it up to the set limit of the line-spacing movement with a gradual movement upon the relaxing of the spring, resulting in the maintenance of an adhering),- relation between the work-sheet and platen under all characters of operation of the line spacing lever.

The different forms and means for carrying out the object of my invention herewith shown and described are simply c0nstructive, and it is understood that certain other modifications of the basic idea may be made, which will be within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

Referring to the drawings, forming a part of this specification: Figure 1 is a horizontal view of one end of the platen roller, with my attachment in operative position thereon; Fig. 2 is an end sectional view of the ratchet mechanism for performing the line spacing movement of the platen roller, showing a face view of the preferred form of device I propose using; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of my pre-- ferred form in combination with a platen roller and operating knob; and Fig. 4 is a modified construction of my device.

Throughout the several views shown in the drawings numerals of reference designatc like parts, in whichi 1 is the platen roller commonly used on machines oi this class, the same being mounted on and carried by a rod or shaft 2, on which is mounted a ratchet wheel 3. One form of mechanism for operating the ratchet, and incidentally for revolving the roll, is shown in detail Fig. 2, no claim for which is made, the same being old in the art, consisting: as it does of a finger trip 4-, operating bar 5, spring 6, and ratchet dog 7 carried. by said bar; all of which features I disclaim as being new, the whole forming what is known as the line spacing device. The operator swings the trip or lever 4- to shift or drive back the bar or slide 5 in the usual manner, the pawl 7 usually droppin; into engagement with the, ra hct wheel 3 to dri re the same until arrested by the usual stop 16. During the return stroke of the parts all'ected by the spring 6, the ratchet wheel is usually held by detent 17.

My invention involves a suitable housing or similar carrying member 8, which is rigidly secured to the ratchet 3 in any suitable manner. both of which members are loose on the shaft 2, and free to move independent of said latter member. Rigidly secured on the shaft adjacent to the said housing 8. is a collar 9 carrying laterally projecting intcgral wing members 10, which. in the pre ferred form. seat in the housing 8. outer extremities of these said wings arc 1.) adapted to receive and retain one end of the resilient elements .ll. herc shown as being in the form of coil springs, the opposite ends of said springs being secured to pins or books 1'2, preferably adjustable through :0 slots 13 formed in the periphery of the housing member. If d sired these pins or hooks can be made stationary instead of adjustable. The adjustable feature is of utility to vary the tension of the spring memhers and accommodate ditha-cnt grades of work. or to take up the slaclt incidental to prolonged usage of these resilient elements. Rigidly positioned pins or stops 1i and 15 respectively, carried by the housing 8. serve to limit the rotary movement of the wings it). and incidentally the eXpansion of the spring members 11. Thus a very slight, or variably increased rotary movement of the said wings. and a more or less expansive 3.3 movement of said springs, is possible by the position given to these stops or limiting pins.

lt will thus readily be apparent. when the respective parts are assembled approxt matcly as shown. that the resilient elements ill be intermediary of the respective move ments of the housing and shaft, so that no matter how severe or erratic the manual line spacing action may be. the full force thereof will not be communicated to the platen. I

llhen the operator brings the line spacing mechanism into play the ratchet wheel 3 is revolved by each blow on the trip l. but said wheel. being loosely mounted on the 30 shaft 2. does not directly effect the subsequent movement of said shaft. and of thc platen r ll. the effect of the blow impartcr being carried to the shaft and platen through the housing 8. resilient clcnn its 11. 5 and wing carr ing collar this latter mem her being rigidly secured to the shaft. and acting directly to rotate said shaft and roll l.

The connection between thc ratcbct whccl U0 and platen shaft being of a flexible or resilicnt nature and capable of transmitting the movement imparted to the ratchct mechanism in modified form to the platen. the jumping or faulty line spacing which struction heretofore described. is that the resilient members are arranged so as to expand and shove against the wings 10, instead of being compressed. this'arrangement of course necessitating changing the position of the stop and limiting pins.

'hat I claim as new. and desire to secure by Letters Patent. is

1. In a typewriting machine. the combination with a platen roller: a. shaft upon which said roller is mounted: a ratchet wheel loosely mounted upon said shaft; a cup-shaped housing loosely mounted on said shaft and secured to said ratchet wheel: a collar secured to said shaft and provided with integral wing members and inclosed by the cup-shaped housing; spring, members onnecting the wing members and the housmg: and adjustable means for regulating the tension of the spring members.

2. In a typewriting machine. the combination with a platen roller; a shaft upon which said roller is mounted: a ratchet wheel loosely mounted upon said shaft; a cup-shaped housing also loosely mounted on said shaft. secured to the ratchet wheel, and adapted to turn in unison therewith: a collar secured to said shaft provided with integral wing members and inclosed by the elm-shaped housing; spring members eonnccting the wing members and the housing; pins carried by the housing for limiting the rotary movement of said Wing members: and adjustable means for regulating the tension of the spring members.

In a typewriting machine. the combination with a platen to frictionally feed a \\oil -slic t. said platen revoluble for line spacing. and a line-spacing lever. of a manually-o -cratcd driving train between the leveiand the platcn to rotate the latter on the initial Sll'OlU. of said train. said train including a platen-driving s rvcs to gage or restrict the init al speed of the p at a. iralepcndently of the speed of manual operati n. to a point where said platen will properly feed or exert traction upon said heet.

l. ln a tvpewriling machine. the Combinm tion with a platen to frictionally feed a \\o!'l -shcct. said platen 'rcvolublc for line spacing. and a line-spacinglever. of a manually-operated driving train between the spring which lever and the platen to rotate the latter on the initial stroke of said train, said train including a platen-driving spring, which serves to restrict the initial speed of the platen, independently of the speed of manual operation, to a point where said platen will properly feed or exert traction upon said sheet, and means forlimiting the extent of the step-by step rotary movement thus imparted to said platen.

5. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen to frictionally feed a work-sheet, a line-space wheel, and a manually-operable lever for rotating said wheel, of driving means connecting said wheel and said platen for transmitting the movement of' the wheel to the platen and controlling the initial speed of the platen, said driving means including a platen-driving spring between said wheel and platen.

6. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen to frictionally feed a work-sheet, a line-space wheel, and a manually'operable device for rotating said .wheel, of a driving device connecting said Wheel and said platen for transmitting the movement of the former to the latter, said driving device including a platen-driving spring which is connected to said wheel and which servesto gage or restrict the initial speed of the platen to a point where said platen will properly feed or exert traction upon said sheet; means for" limiting the ex tent of movement transmitted to said platen; and means for limiting the relative springtensioning movement between the line-space wheel and platen.

7. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen to frictionally feed a work-sheet, said platen revoluble for line-' spacing, and manually-operable line-spacing means for rotating said platen on the initial stroke of said means, of a driving train connecting said line-spacing means and said platen for rotating the latter, said train including a platen-driving spring which serves to gage or restrict the initial speed of the-platen, independently of the speed of manual operation, to a point where said platen will properly feed or exert traction upon said sheet; and means for varying the tension of said spring.

8. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen to frictioi'ially feed a work-sheet, and a shaft on which said platen is fixed, of line-spacing mechanism including a manually-operable device, a ratchet wheel loose on said shaft and driven by said device, a member fixed to said shaft. and a platemdriving spring connecting said wheel and said member together, to transmit the rotary movement of said wheel to said platen and. to gage or restrict the initial speed of such movement to a point Where said platen will properly feed or exert traction upon wheel loose on said shaft and driven by said device, a housing secured to said wheel, a member fixed to said shaft adjacent said housing, and a platen-driving spring within said housing connected to the same and to said member, to transmit the rotary move ment of said wheel to said platen and to gage or restrict the initial speed of such movement to a point where said platen will properly feed or exert traction upon said sheet.

10. In a typewriting machine, the com bin-ation with a platen to frictionally feed a work-sheet, and a shaft therefor, of line spacing mechanism including a manuallyoperable device, a ratchet wheel loose on said siaft and driven by said device, a member fixed to said shaft adjacent said wheel and provided with a. plurality of projections, and platen-driving springs connecting said wheel and said projections together, to

transmit the rotary movement of said wheel to said platen and to gage or restrict the initial speed of such movement to a point where said platen will properly feed or exert traction upon said work-sheet.

11. In a typewriting machine, the com bination with a platen to frictionally feed a work-sheet, and a shaft therefor, of linespacing mechanism including a manuallyoperable device, a ratchet wheel loose on said shaft and driven by said device, a housing fixed to said wheel, a member secured to said shaft and disposed within said housing, said member being provided with a plurality of projections, and'platen-driving springs connecting said housing and said projections together, to transmit the rotary movement of said wheel to said platen and to gage or restrict the initial speed of such movement to a point where the platen will -properly feed or exert traction upon said sheet.

12. In ,a typewriting machine, the combination with a. platen to frictionally feed a work-sheet, and a shaft therefor, of linespacing mechanism including a manuallyoperable device, a housing secured to said wheel. a member fixed to said shaft and disposed within said housing, said member being provided with a plurality of projections,

platen-driving springs connecting said housfor coaction with said projections to limit the extent of spring-tensi0ning movement between the platen and line-space wheel.

13. The combination of a platen to fric tionally feed a Work-sheet, said platen revoluble for line-spacing, and a manuallydriven platen-driving train for line-spacing the same on the initial stroke of said train, and for controlling the initial speed thereof 10 independently of the speed of manual oper ation, said train including a manually-t erable lever on device, a pawl, a ratchet Wheel, and a platen-driving spring.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses. 

